Pugna in Dota 2: counters, win rate and common mistakes
Pugna — Intelligence, ranged; roles: Nuker, Pusher. Public match win rate — 50.0%. In short: Pugna is strong against Ogre Magi, Dragon Knight, Tusk but suffers against Centaur Warrunner, Shadow Demon, Shadow Fiend.
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Pugna win rate by rank
public matches, OpenDota data · scale 40–60%Herald45.2%
Guardian47.6%
Crusader49.1%
Archon50.2%
Legend51.5%
Ancient51.8%
Divine51.6%
Immortal—
Pugna is strong against
hover a hero for a summary
Who counters Pugna
How to play Pugna against counters
items, your spells and what to fear — per enemy
vs Centaur WarrunnerCentaur is tanky and catches you with Stomp up close — keep distance and don't let him reach you.43.7%
What to build against it
Force StaffPushes you out of Hoof Stomp range during the windup.
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance and invisibility reduce Stomp and Double Edge damage.
Aether LensCast range lets you drain and Nether Blast from a safe distance.
Scythe of VyseHex stops Centaur's initiation before he stomps.
How to use the spells of Pugna
DecrepifyDecrepify yourself only vs his attacks; Double Edge is magical, so mostly save it to dodge his right-clicks or banish allies.
Nether WardPlace the ward in the fight: Centaur spams Stomp and Double Edge and will take damage.
Life DrainDon't right-click him — Retaliate returns damage; use Life Drain from range instead.
Watch out for Centaur Warrunner
Hoof StompDuring the windup walk away — he's disarmed but can still move.
StampedeStampede speeds his team — position far back and save Force Staff.
vs Shadow DemonShadow Demon removes you with Disruption and punishes with poison — play around your ward and keep distance.44.8%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks his unit-target Disruption, Disseminate or Demonic Purge.
Lotus OrbReflects his unit-target spells back at him.
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance cuts Shadow Poison stack damage.
Aether LensLets you stand farther back and avoid poison lines.
How to use the spells of Pugna
Nether WardSD spams Shadow Poison — the ward punishes every cast; place it in lane and fights.
DecrepifyDecrepify an ally being hit by SD's Disruption illusions.
Life DrainDrain SD when he's out of mana — he's a fragile support.
Watch out for Shadow Demon
DisruptionDisruption interrupts Life Drain — don't commit to long channels until it's used.
Shadow PoisonDodge the lines and don't stack it — damage grows with stacks.
vs Shadow FiendShadow Fiend bursts you with razes and Requiem — punish him with Decrepify and control spacing.45.7%
What to build against it
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance reduces raze and Requiem damage.
Force StaffMoves you out of raze zones and away from Requiem.
Scythe of VyseHex stops his blink-Requiem and removes him from the fight.
Black King BarProtects from magical raze and Requiem damage.
How to use the spells of Pugna
DecrepifyDecrepify SF when he right-clicks with Feast of Souls — he can't attack, then burst him with Blast.
Nether WardSF casts razes often — the ward chips him steadily in lane.
Nether BlastPush and farm with Blast, denying him souls from creeps.
Watch out for Shadow Fiend
ShadowrazeRazes stack an amplifier — don't stand at a fixed distance, keep moving.
Requiem of SoulsStay far from SF in fights — Requiem hits harder up close.
vs Primal BeastPrimal Beast charges in and crushes you with Pulverize — avoid his charge line and cancel the channel.45.9%
What to build against it
Force StaffGets you out of Trample and off the Onslaught line.
Scythe of VyseHex interrupts Pulverize and stops his charge.
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance cuts Trample damage.
Aeon DiskSaves you from the Onslaught plus Pulverize burst.
How to use the spells of Pugna
DecrepifyDecrepify Beast during Uproar — he can't attack and takes extra magic damage.
Nether WardWard his engage zone — Beast casts a lot and loses HP.
Life DrainDrain from a safe distance, outside Trample range.
Watch out for Primal Beast
PulverizePulverize pierces BKB — stay out of range or have allies interrupt it.
OnslaughtWhen he charges, sidestep off the line.
vs LionLion chains disables and Finger, and drains your mana — keep distance and punish with the ward.46.8%
What to build against it
Linken's SphereBlocks Hex or Finger of Death.
Glimmer CapeMagic resistance reduces Earth Spike and Finger damage.
Lotus OrbReflects Hex or Finger back at Lion.
Aeon DiskSurvive the Hex plus Finger combo.
How to use the spells of Pugna
Nether WardLion's spells cost lots of mana — the ward heavily punishes Finger and Hex.
Life DrainLion is fragile — drain him after he uses Hex and Spike.
DecrepifyDecrepify Lion to amplify your Blast and Drain for a quick kill.
Watch out for Lion
HexHex cancels your channel and disables you — stay out of his range.
Finger of DeathDon't stay low HP near Lion — Finger will finish you.
Tips are based on ability descriptions and matchup stats — a guideline, not a rule.
Pugna builds by role
purchase popularity on the hero, split by item type; hover an itemStarting items
Iron Branch22%
Tango14%
Observer and Sentry Wards11%
Faerie Fire8%
Magic Stick7%
Circlet6%Early game
Boots of Speed53%
Null Talisman15%
Staff of Wizardry3%
Bottle2%
Kaya2%
Void Stone2%Mid game
Staff of Wizardry9%
Ogre Axe4%Kaya4%
Aghanim's Shard3%Late game
Blink Dagger8%Aeon Disk6%
Aghanim's Scepter5%
Ultimate Orb3%Situational items on Pugna: when to buy
red — heroes that counter PugnaBlack King BarAgainst heavy disables and magic damageEspecially vs heroes that counter Pugna: Lion
Shadow Shaman
Lina
Zeus
Skywrath Mage
Earthshaker
Tidehunter
Invoker
BaneLinken's SphereBlocks single-target disables and ultimatesEspecially vs heroes that counter Pugna: Lion
Doom
Legion Commander
Batrider
Beastmaster
Pudge
Necrophos
Orchid MalevolenceSilence for slippery, spell-based escape heroesEspecially vs heroes that counter Pugna: Void Spirit
Storm Spirit
Puck
Anti-Mage
Ember Spirit
WeaverAeon DiskSaves you from burst and single-target combosEspecially vs heroes that counter Pugna: Lion
Phantom Assassin
Monkey King BarAgainst evasion: pierces Evasion and Butterfly
Windranger
Brewmaster
Silver EdgeDisables passives (Break)
Bristleback
Spectre
Huskar
Slark
Ursa
Timbersaw
Axe
Manta StyleDispels silences and roots
Silencer
Death Prophet
Riki
Drow Ranger
Diffusal BladeBurns mana of mana-dependent heroes
Medusa
Leshrac
Heaven's HalberdDisarms right-click carries
Troll Warlord
Juggernaut
Sven
Faceless VoidWhy players lose on Pugna
from matches analyzed on DotaLeak: 3Not enough analyzed Pugna matches yet. Analyze yours — it will count.
FAQ
Who counters Pugna?
Pugna loses most often against Centaur Warrunner, Shadow Demon, Shadow Fiend. What to build and how to play vs them →
Who is Pugna good against?
Best matchups: Ogre Magi, Dragon Knight, Tusk.
What is Pugna's win rate?
In public matches — 50.0%. It varies by rank, see the table above.
What to build on Pugna?
In the mid game players most often buy Arcane Boots, Glimmer Cape, Aether Lens. Situational items depend on the enemy — see above.
